East Ridge football coach Tim James preaches “next man, up” and Friday night against visiting Brainerd he and his staff needed all the “next healthy men up” they could find.
Playing without injured 2015 Mr Football Traneil Moore and losing starting quarterback Eric Bennett in the second quarter (due to injury), the Pioneer “second stringers” or “next men up” stepped up to lead the Pioneers (1-1) to a 34-6 win against the Panthers (0-2) in a non-region game.
Bennett was a perfect 4-4 passing for 45 yards, including a 23-yard scoring toss to Jordan Lindsey for the Orange and White’s first score in the opening quarter and a 10 yarder to Jawuan Simmons before leaving the game due to a possible concussion.
Up stepped backup QB Alonzo Russell who went an impressive 4-6 for 116 passing yards off the bench, including a 57-yard scoring pass to Marquis Hinton, while junior Kashawn Cosey rushed for 86 yards on 15 carries and a score.
“We are beat up all to pieces so I am proud of everyone for stepping up and playing hard,” said a smiling coach James when reminded this was his first win as head coach in the stadium (Raymond James Stadium) named for his dad.
“Our offensive line did a great job in opening holes for our backs,” James stated.
The victors, who never trailed, led 12-0 at the end of the first quarter, 20-6 at half, and put 7 on the board in each of the final two quarters to earn their first win of the season under James.
After the Bennett-to-Lindsey first score, Jawuan Simmons (10 yard scoring reception) and Cosey (8 yards) and Lorenzo Stewart (1 yard) each reached the end zone, while Russell and receiver Marquis Hinton teamed up for a 57-yard scoring play 37 ticks on the clock before half.
“We didn’t focus very well tonight and some of that rests with me and I will fix that,” said Brainerd head coach Brian Gwyn.
“We had a lot of penalties (9-70 yards) tonight which stopped our offense and their offensive line did a good job of clearing the way for their running backs.”
Fumble Recoveries: East Ridge – Tommy Stewart
Interceptions: East Ridge – Alonzo Russell, Jawuan Simmons
You Gotta have a Program - Two Lefties: fans need a program to tell which East Ridge quarterback is in the game ... Eric Bennett (#7) and Alonzo Russell (#4) are left-handed.
Lightening Delay: The game was stopped at 7:57 p.m. and 2:59 of the first quarter due to lightening in the area and play was resumed at 8:31 ...
Next Game: Sept. 2 - East Ridge (1-1) visits Signal Mountain … Brainerd (0-2) hosts Boyd Buchanan (1-0)
East Ridge 34, Brainerd 6
Brainerd 0 – 6 – 0 – 0 – 6
East Ridge 12 – 8 – 7 – 7 -- 34
1st - ER - Jordan Lindsey 23 pass from Eric Bennett (kick failed), 6-0 … 9:27
ER - Jawuan Simmons 10 pass from Bennett (pass failed), 12-0 … 3:38
2nd - BR - Jamaul Herman 6 run (run failed) 12-6 … 9:25
ER - Marquis Hinton 57 pass from Alonzo Russell (Lorenzo Stewart run), 20-6 .. :37
3rd – ER - Kashawn Cosey 8 run (Muhammid Hasan kick), 27-0 … 3:59
4th – ER - Lorenzo Stewart 1 run (Hasan kick), 34-6 … 10:10
Records: East Ridge (1-1), Brainerd (0-2)
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net